No Buy May

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I wish that I had bought a car! We had some unexpected expenses with medical co-pays and I had to pay for several summer day camps for the kids. Other than that it was "normal" stuff. Here is a rugged breakdown and you'll see that we are going to have to cut out a ton of stuff. The crazy part is that the major expenses were in categories that I thought were under control. I think that I am only supposed to post what the budget will be but I will start with what the budget was and then work backwards:

Groceries - $853 - new budget = $500

Dining out - $653 - new budget = $250

Gas - $623 (cant do much about this one)

Household (Target, etc) - $677 - new budget $300

Savings - $960 (this one gets a big YEA!)

Medical - $568 (hopefully this will reduce as the kids are now well)

Misc. (clothing , gifts, etc.) - $788 - new budget = $300

School Expenses - $553 - this will go away for summer, camps are prepaid

Lawn & home repair - $225

Mortgage/Utilities/cars/debts - $5950.90 - new budget = $4000 (mortgage and utilities are not much and very little cc debt but cell phone and AMex run high b/c DH is selfemployed)

YIKES! And I have to figure in our quarterly estimated taxes. Savings encompasses investing and vacation savings.

Suggestions, thoughts, comments?

Oh, hey, you've got your mortgage and other debts in there, no wonder it was so high!

Most of us don't post the things we can't change every month, like mortgage, car payments, school debts, etc.

Just the things we can affect by changing our discretionary spending habits. At least, that's my take on it....

I mean, if you count that we funded our IRA's and the kids' 529's this month, I had a 5 figure spending number in there too, but it doesn't "count" because I can't change those things...

 

[global_mom]

Holy Crap!

Ok, I feel better. Kandeebunny is doing so well she's giving me an insecurity complex about spending, nice to know I have global_mom balancing it out .

Glad I could help!

 

[Kickapoo Joie Juice]

I almost bought a giant pack of candles for the emergency box, but I didn't put it on my Ikea list, so I didn't get them.

You know you're going to lose power now, right? Nothing like poking Murphy (murphy's law)...

 

[global_mom]

Oh, hey, you've got your mortgage and other debts in there, no wonder it was so high!

Most of us don't post the things we can't change every month, like mortgage, car payments, school debts, etc.

Just the things we can affect by changing our discretionary spending habits. At least, that's my take on it....

I mean, if you count that we funded our IRA's and the kids' 529's this month, I had a 5 figure spending number in there too, but it doesn't "count" because I can't change those things...

Good point. So if I back out the "unchangables" like mortgage, cars etc. that would bring,me down about $2500. I did not add in the stufff like paying the CPA for the tax prep and those kind of "one shot" expenses. I guess that my adjusted total would be around $9,400. Better but still not great.

It going to be different for May! Is it OK if I do the weekly check-ins even if I am new to this?

 

[IlliniMouse]

Alright. My husband has already blown my budget for the month. Couldn't he have at least waited til like the 15th to do it? I mean, come on! Let me get half way through the month before all is lost!!! Maybe I should make my husband the exemption since he obviously doens't know what he's doing. I'll let this slide though...he went and bought oil and filters for the cars, a pinewood derby kit on clearance for $3, a hat so his soon to be bald head doesn't get sunburnt anymore. I don't know what he was thinking buying a grill scrubber and a night light though.

Anyway, here is where I sit

Entertainment/eating out 16.13/300
gifts 0/125
school 0/100
groceries 73.22/500
gas 0/700
misc household 48.61/100
and the budget buster of 48.39 for oil/filters. DH's other spending came out of misc household. (I"ll see how the month ends. Maybe I can make that fit into another category.)

Cub Foods had a bunch of coupons, and with those I saved 34% of my total bill. I came home with roast, ham, and pork chops, and chips that were BOGO. Almost everything else I bought was on some sort of price cut.

I did have ONE $0 spending day...that was 5/1 and I didn't leave the house.

 

[paulasillars]

It going to be different for May! Is it OK if I do the weekly check-ins even if I am new to this?

Check in as often as it works for you. Weekly is fine, daily is also ok if you need the accountability.

While I'm here, here is my update...

1st - $0
2nd - $0
3rd - $0
4th - $0

$0/$250

We've spent nearly half our grocery budget already! However we were a little under last month. At least the cupboards are well stocked and I'm sure we can make it to the middle of the month before spending the rest.

 

[PrincessParty]

You know I said the "B" word. ("Budget") Anyhow, went to the airport to pick up my sister, parked in the cell phone lot, she called to say she was out front and my car wouldn't start. The good news is it was just a battery, which I have $$$ for, just not written in the budget. $112.00 of my $100.00 unexpected expenses. -$12.00. So I already blew this months budget by $15.71 and it is the 3rd of the month. (Just FYI the $112.00 includes a 6 year warranty and alternator and starter check.)

 

[Siouxstone]

It was a $0 day!

5/1-$0
5/2-$33 at Walmart, budgeted, $35 unplanned
5/3-$0

I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

 

[Took]

This is my first "no buy" month, but you guys really inspire me. I'm starting today with my expected expenses and will report back every few days on how I'm doing. May is usually a cheap month for us, so I'm hopeful.

Here's my list of "have to buys":

Gifts:
Best couple friends' DS's bd: $15 + card $1-2.
Their DD's high school graduation: $50 (probably--she's valdectorian and we're so proud of her!) + card $1-2
Mother's day: $100 (sent mine flowers, will take DH's out for lunch with $50 gift card to help next Sunday) Flowers $45, leaves $55 for lunch (+gc).

So spent on gifts=$45/165


Since I've been once, along as I work from lists and use sales for necessary items, I think I can keep groceries for the 3 of us to: $400

Household: $150 (mostly Target)

Gas: $450 (aiming for this anyway--DH works out of town but has high MPG car--also includes gas for lawn mower)

Auto: $50 (maybe an oil change--hopefully nothing else)

School: $30 (maybe one lunch card left--we're out by the 21st)

Lawn and Home: $125 (some new flowers and a tree--old tree destroyed by ice last year)

Total spent/budgeted for the "changeables"=$ 45/1360

 

[mimi71078]

I figure 3 backpacks x$20=60 for the cheap ones, just get one $60 one at the beginning and be done with it. Hopefully I'll find a coupon for ll bean, 'cause I need to get two of them

.

Have you tried looking on ebay?

 

[KarenAylwood]

5/1: $0
5/2: $30 on gas, $18 on two Disney DVDs, $5 (yes, $5) on going out with the girls
5/3: $15 on eating out (a McD stop before the beach and a 7 Eleven stop after the beach)

Today I'm going to the grocery store, Walgreens, etc so no $0 day here!

I was excited about the Disney DVDs- I am collecting all the animated classics so I had to pick up the Caballeros collection (came out on Tues). It was $14.99 at BB, and if you bought it you got $5 off another Disney DVD and I had been planning on buying Oliver & Company as a gift for my friend's bday next month. I had $5 off from Reward Zone and $8 left on a GC so it only cost $18 (less than the reg price on the O&C dvd!).

I only spent $5 on going out! I only bought 1 beer because we drank and ate at my friend's house before leaving, and the bartender made a customer buy me a drink because he unknowingly tried to cut me in line at the bar (I really did try to pay but the bartender just told me to take it!) I did great for our girl's night out!

 

[kandeebunny]

5/1 $0
5/2 $0
5/3 $0
5/4 $0

$0/200 monthly

 

[global_mom]

5/1 $0
5/2 $0
5/3 $0
5/4 $0

$0/200 monthly

WOW! I'm inspired!

 

[SnowWhite607]

May 3rd - McDonalds for lunch - 17.25 (last time I send DH, he came back with a bunch of stuff we didnt need)

May 4 - BBQ lunch - $24
Grocery store - 19.16

This is how much I have left in each:

Eating out - 158.75/200
Groceries and household - 370.97/400
Gas - 150/150
Entertainment - 58.25/75
Mothers Day - 50/50
Dance recital gifts 25/25

 

[jessp1021]

Ok so far so good.. DH got overtime so we had extra spending money.. the only bad thing is we were really low on groceries so over half the budget for that is spent. Here is where we are so far:
Groceries $200 of $300
Household/Walmart $20 of $100
Eating Out $30 of $60
Misc Spending $50 of $125
Gas $25 of $300
Bills $500 of $1287

 

[kandeebunny]

WOW! I'm inspired!

Well thanks! I'm moving out on my own in August so I need every cent I can get. Makes for good motivation not to spend.

 

[SandraVB79]

Last weekend, I didn't really keep myself to my budget. I went to the hairdresser + tthey sold me one of their expensive salon shampoos and conditioners. 88 eur out of the budget

 

[Adi12982]

5/1 - $199 total (all within budget below)
5/2 - $70 DH got a video game, I told him it was ok, he deserves it (he is the only one working and he hasn't bought himself a game since we got the system over a year ago), but that that was most of our entertainment budget for the month - he thought it would be ok
5/3 - $200 at Walmart (this was for groceries for the month (we are well stocked), and my graduation BBQ, including buying a cheap $20 grill. Both our families are flying up for it, so the least we welt we could do was cover a meal - plus this is cheaper than all 13 of us going to a restaurant that night too.)
5/4 - $0 (and most of the rest of the days this month should be $0 days)


Here is what has been spent/out of, for the month:
Gas: $0/$160
Groceries/eating out: $245/$255
Entertainment:$70/$80 (Spent it on craft stuff)
Bithday gifts (grandmother and brother, including shipping): $108/$108
Mother's Day gifts: $46/$58

 

[ssdeverell]

Wow! Some of you already have several $0 days. Very impressive! My spending for the last few days . . .

5/1 - gas $49.39, lunch $4.06, groceries (CVS) $3.82
5/2 - lunch $8.37, snack $1.86
5/3 - groceries $49.52, 1st year girl figurine for DD $6.00 (not in budget), YMCA swim lessons $27
5/4 - groceries $67.67, lunch $13.83, gas $51.00

Totals for the month:

$27/$27 - YMCA swim class for DD

$100.39/$350 - Gas (just mine - DH gets weekly "allowance" for his lunches/gas)

$121.01/$350 - Groceries - I am very excited about this as I bought enough meat to last for at least two months at Food Lion, in addition to my normal weekly groceries

$28.12/$50 - Eating out - going to have to get this one under control

$76 - Framing of DD's 1st year composite

$130 - Mother's Day - this will include a dinner out with DM and MIL - I already have most gifts

$30 - School pictures for DD - picked these up this morning, but I did not like them. I will do the remake session, so this may carry over to June, plus it is $20 less than I originally estimated.

$25 - Crop (scrapbooking)

$25 - Dad's birthday gift

$10 - Work shower gift (I already have part of it)

$10 - 2nd work shower gift (group diaper gift card)

$25 - Friend's DS's birthday

$6/$25 - Misc

I had to add the last three in as I forgot them on my original list. I am pleased so far, except for the eating out budget. Hope to have a $0 day at least once this week.

 

[sandisuze]

ok reporting in for the weekend:
I KNEW the car wash would end up costing me $$

So Breakfast and snack for DD was 3.50
4.50/125.00= 120.50 left Misc.

Sunday went to Sams in the afternoon- had to buy for the Job-
one of my fav job descriptions : SHOP and not use my own $$$
I did buy a box of those 100 calorie packs - i looked at walmart and they are now 2.78 a box for 6 packs and at Sams it was 6.78 for a 24 pack or assorted bags.
I also bought yummy country style ribs on markdown for 8.00 -2 meals and 2 lunches easy outa that pack.
got a few other groceries for a total of 26.00

so far over the weekend my totals are
Gas: 15.00/140.00=128.00
Groceries: 26.00/400.00=374.00
so far so good